The difference being that Kia need the 7 year warranty to sell their cars.

VAG don't so won't.

They offer a 5 year manufacturers warranty. No-one seems to realise this. I was offered it for £500. This cost could easily be lost in the RRP and supplied with all SKodas but the fact that you have the option is probably better. I will probably change mine after 3 years so 5 years warranty wasnt essential. If i decide after 3 years that i want to keep the car they offer an extended warranty for either 1 or 2 years. Not quite as comprehensive as if you take the original 5 years warranty but covers costly essentials like electrics and drivetrain etc. Seems a pretty good deal to me to be honest.

There are stories of problems with Kia's 7 year offer on a couple of the caravanning forums, where they are finding a lot of things are specifically excluded. They also don't appear to allow much leeway over getting services done either slightly late or early.

His is just out of warranty but is faultless. One owner from new, a retired couple. Only done 20,000 miles, spotless inside and out, more than enough poke and the best thing is no dreaded DPF to worry about

They offer a 5 year manufacturers warranty. No-one seems to realise this. I was offered it for £500. This cost could easily be lost in the RRP and supplied with all SKodas but the fact that you have the option is probably better.

Yes but you are paying for it so its not a like-for-like comparison. Kia could charge an extra £500 to take it from 7 years to 9 years.

We all know that the cost of the warranty is included in the price of the car but Kia's are cheaper than most equivalent VAG models and have an additional 4 years warranty.

The question is how much is that warranty worth. If the level of cover of Kia's warranty reduces year-on-year then it may actually be no more comprehensive or valuable than VAG's three year warranty.

I wouldn't be so sure! I think there rep may be slipping slightly!

There was a time that every taxi on Washington street was skoda either octavia or superb, not most are other makes including Kia, Hyundai, Chevrolet and even a couple of French ones!

You just need to look at the price of a used Golf compared to an equivelent Kia C'eed to know which of the two brands has the higher perception.

Kia warranty -

Some items have a natural limited life/durability and are therefore covered for less than 7 years. These items include (but are not restricted to) consumable parts such as worn windscreen wiper blades, clutch linings, etc. The vehicle battery is warranted for a period of 2 years. The audio system is warranted for 3 years/60,000 miles and vehicle paint is warranted for 5 years/100,000 miles.

For all other components, the total cost of parts and labour associated with any warranty claim are covered.

OK that's hardly a detailed answer to what is covered but it's still more than is covered at 4yr with a VAG, Ford, etc.

I have a firend who works for a local Kia dealership in the serive dept and a side role is processing the warrenty claim work. She has always maintains that if things do go wrong (she says they rarely do) then they are told by head office that its a full bumper to bumper no quibble warranty for the 7 year duration. This is partly due to them trying build their reputation for service and reliability in the UK and partly due to trying to stay one step ahead with other manufacturs issuing lengthy warranties as standard. I cant argue with the reliabilty or the warranty on Korean cars but for the the refinement is not quite up with its euro counterparts just yet. i stress the just yet bit!

I've had a couple of warranty issues and Kia have been fantastic. It has missed a paint inspection and a service but they covered some flaking paint and an abs sensor...

The difference being that Kia need the 7 year warranty to sell their cars.

VAG don't so won't.

With the rising sales of Korean brands, and even the likes of Skoda over the year these brands must be taking market share from someone. To say VW don't need to compete is nonsense.

Kia optima looks awesome, a little like the Honda very modern design format, much more modern than European cars imo

I'm currently trying to find a KX4 one of these to have a test drive but they're rarer than rocking horse teeth!

I don't think they'll find many buyers who'd part with their hard earned on the off chance that they'd like the car - do you?

I'm currently trying to find a KX4 one of these to have a test drive but they're rarer than rocking horse teeth!

I don't think they'll find many buyers who'd part with their hard earned on the off chance that they'd like the car - do you?

That's a goodi looking chariot, see what I mean about designing, really radical and sweet

To say VW don't need to compete is nonsense.

They are competing, just not with their warranty

If the Kia 'package' is so attractive then why would anyone buy a four year old VW?

Think about it, a four year old Golf with no warranty or a four year old Kia with three years left of warranty. Which would you buy? The Kia of course.

But just look at used prices of a four year old Golf's and four year old C'eed's. The Golf's are demanding a lot, lot more.

There is a reason for this and it ain't anything to do with the length of the warranty.

Car purchasing isn't an entirely logical decision though is it?

There are still a hell of a lot of people who will not even consider a Skoda because of jokes from 30 years ago.

They are competing, just not with their warranty

If the Kia 'package' is so attractive then why would anyone buy a four year old VW?

Think about it, a four year old Golf with no warranty or a four year old Kia with three years left of warranty. Which would you buy? The Kia of course.

But just look at used prices of a four year old Golf's and four year old C'eed's. The Golf's are demanding a lot, lot more.

There is a reason for this and it ain't anything to do with the length of the warranty.

Not sure? That's the dilemma of course which is best ? I know "FIGHT"

There is a reason for this and it ain't anything to do with the length of the warranty.

So what is the reason then?

Personally I think its just brand perception and nothing to do with reliability or value . I would keep the pennies in my pocket and buy the Kia. OK, by by time the car was 8 years old the VW would still be holding its value better but when you consider you would have spent a lot less on the Kia in the first place I don't think the Kia will have cost any more per year in depreciation and would be just as reliable.

Car purchasing isn't an entirely logical decision though is it?

There are still a hell of a lot of people who will not even consider a Skoda because of jokes from 30 years ago.

Agreed - just different people have different values - for some its brand for me its money

So what is the reason then?

I don't think there is a single answer. As has been mentioned above we all have have different opinions about what makes one car better than another, whether that be colour, fuel type, brand, size, transmission - the list is endless.

If VW's are holding their value for the reason you say - brand perception - then this just confirms my point about VW not needing to offer anything more than their 3 year warranty.

If they are able to outsell Kia and make more margin without having to pay out for an additional four years warranty then why would you?

I don't think there is a single answer. As has been mentioned above we all have have different opinions about what makes one car better than another, whether that be colour, fuel type, brand, size, transmission - the list is endless.

If VW's are holding their value for the reason you say - brand perception - then this just confirms my point about VW not needing to offer anything more than their 3 year warranty.

If they are able to outsell Kia and make more margin without having to pay out for an additional four years warranty then why would you?

Fair enough but my point is that if the "new" brands are building market share then the old school must be losing market share. Doing nothing differently will not reverse the trend.

Very true, time will tell.

When VAG increase their warranty we'll know they are getting hurt by the Koreans!

Not really relevant to the new generation Kia's, but we've just sold wife's Picanto 1.1LX. Over six years old - total ependiture other than routine servicing, two sidelight bulbs and one high level brake light bulb. It was just under 6K brand new (pre registered). Couldn't fault it for the money.

We have KIA Ceed 1.6 Econetic estates as works cars.

Having driven a reasonable variety of cars over 30 years, I think that brakes and steering very good. Seats are firm but a bit flat. Avg MPG over long distance was 55 with stop start being useful in motorway jams.

Air con and stereo and feel of controls was very

good. The sole downside are that the plastics

are cheap and scratch very easily on the doors. As for rattles and squeaks, each one I have driven has had no problem.

Power wise it is slow but very quiet and easy to drive, sufficient to keep up with the traffic.

For a company car It is comparable with it's competitors. Would I buy one with my own

money? Yes if it was 2nd hand and the right price.

But just look at used prices of a four year old Golf's and four year old C'eed's. The Golf's are demanding a lot, lot more.

The price of used Golfs has put me off in the past. I don't think they're worth it.

My in-laws had a 4x4 new sportage but only for abuot 3 months. They went from their newish A4 tdi to a petrol 4x4 as a bit of a knee jerk reaction to the couple of harsh winters. They took the claimed 40mpg at face value, got to say I raise an eyebrow at that and I was right. They got about 22mpg from it and couldn't cope with the drop from Audi interiors.

Tellingly the Kia broke down, it was collected and fixed quickly (considering it was Arnold Clark) but this was The.End. Of. The. World.

They bought a new A3 derv quattro soon after and it broke down. But this was fine, Audi will fix it.

Strange that a similar fault is perceived so differently depending on brand.

I quite liked their Sportage, Not so sure on the metallic poo colour but it was a nice motor.